Which place is cheaper, Wellington or Zanzibar?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Zanzibar or Wellington?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Zanzibar and Wellington can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Zanzibar or Wellington?
Zanzibar
Just off the coast of Tanzania lies an entrancing archipelago known as Zanzibar. This gorgeous string of islands is the land of sultans, palaces beaches and spice-filled markets. Once an important trading center, many restorations have been done in recent years to restore Zanzibar to its ancient grandeur - earning its capital city UNESCO World Heritage status in 2000.
Wellington
Wellington is the capital and second largest city in New Zealand. It sits on the southwestern edge of the North Island between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range. It's a beautiful setting that is encircled by mountains giving it a beautiful backdrop. There are also many cultural sights and attractions around town. Wellington really is the perfect mix of New Zealand's natural beauty and a vibrant urban core. The film industry is also prevelant in the city. The city's production centers have helped create Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit trilogies, Avatar, Tin Tin, and District 9.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Eco Tours in Tanzania, The Best Cultural Tours in Tanzania, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand, and The Best Adventure Tours to New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayZanzibar $51Wellington $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Zanzibar is $51, while the average daily cost in Wellington is $104. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Zanzibar and Wellington in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personZanzibar $24Wellington $61
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomZanzibar $48Wellington $122
Compare Hotels in Zanzibar and Wellington
Looking for a hotel in Zanzibar or Wellington? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.
Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.
Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Zanzibar Hotel Prices and Wellington Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Zanzibar $11Wellington $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Zanzibar
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Zanzibar:
- transfer from airport to Makunduchi Zanzibar: $44
- Zanzibar:Prison Island,Nakupenda Sandbank Tour with transfer: $141
- Zanzibar:Hotels & Airport Transfer Services: $50
- Stone Town to Airport Private Transfer: $23
- Safari blue tour with Lunch and Transfers: $180
- Private Airport Transfers to Stone Town: $23
- Private Airport Transfer: $50
- One-Way Airport Transfer to Your Hotel: $50
- Jozani Forest and Spice Farm Tour With Transfer: $110
- Island Transfers: $50
- Fishing Boat Tour with Transfer: $109
- Baraka Turtle Aquarium Tour with Hotel Transfers: $80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Wellington
Also for Wellington, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Arrival Transfer: Wellington Airport to Central Wellington City Centre Hotels: $13
- Departure Transfer: Wellington Central City Centre Hotels to Wellington Airport: $13
- Private Airport Transfer: $78
- Private Transfer from Wellington Cruise Port to Wellington Hotels: $26
- Private Transfer from Wellington hotels to Wellington Cruise Port: $26
- Private Transfer with Wellington Dial a Driver: $72
- Wellington Airport (WLG) to Wellington - Arrival Private Transfer: $28
- Wellington Airport Transfer to Wellington Hotels and Vice versa: $75
- Wētā Workshop Experience with Guided Transfers: $61
Is it cheaper to fly into Zanzibar or Wellington?
Prices for flights to both Wellington and Zanzibar change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayZanzibar $17Wellington $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zanzibar
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Zanzibar.
- Half-Day Kuza Cave Swimming Adventure and Cooking Class: $13
- Authentic Street Food Tours in Stone Town, Zanzibar: $40
- Zanzibar Traditional Cooking Class: $49
- An romantic cooking Lesson + Spice Farm Tour: $55
- Zanzibar Cooking Class [Swahili food test ] and Spice farm Private tour: $59
- Zanzibar Cooking Class & Spice Tour : $59
- Zanzibar Spice farm and Cooking Class: $60
- Local Cooking Class with Spice Tour in Zanzibar: $60
- Walking Spice Farm with Local Cooking Class: $60
- Spice Farm tour & Local cooking lesson with Lunch: $64
- Spice Farm Tour with Traditional Cooking Lesson: $65
- Stone Town Private Food Tour with a Guide: $65
Typical Food Prices in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner$9.02
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Wellington
For Wellington, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Walking Food Tour Of Wellington: $151
- A Taste Of Wellington Food Tour (half Day): $185
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Zanzibar $13Wellington $16
Tours and Activities in Zanzibar
Here are a few actual costs in Zanzibar for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 4 hours Spice Tour in Tanzania: $80
- Fair Tourism In Paje: $27
- Spice Tour & Mangapwani Cave Tour: $80
- Stone City, Spice Farm and Prison Island Full Day Tour: $130
- Stonetown Private Half-day Walking Tour: $35
- Zanzibar Spice Tour : $47
- 10 DAYS MOSHI TO ZANZIBAR BIKE TOUR: $4,286
- 2day Zanzibar adventure: Prison Island & Sandbank (all-incl): $538
- 3 HOURS PRISON ISLAND TOUR IN ZANZIBAR: $60
- 3 Hours Private Stone Town Walking Tour : $30
- 3-Day Selous Game Reserve Safari & Cultural tour with Flight: $1,345
- 3-Hour Private City Tour in Zanzibar Island : $26
Tours and Activities in Wellington
For Wellington, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Return Cable Car Ticket: $6.61
- Museum of NZ Te Papa Tongarewa: Gallipoli Early Entry Ticket: $9.02
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Guided Tour: $12
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa: Mana Māori Tour: $12
- Museum of NZ Te Papa Tongarewa Twilight Express Tour: $12
- Museum of New Zealand Te Papa: Small Group Guided Tour: $14
- Wellington Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Skip the Line: Staglands Wildlife Reserve Entry Ticket: $16
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Temple: $27
- Private Group Puzzle-Solving Adventure Game: Spaceship: $27
- Wētā Workshop Experience and Guided Tour: $33
- Wētā Workshop Experience in Wellington: $33
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayZanzibar $6.86Wellington $12
Sample the Local Flavors in Zanzibar
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Zanzibar:
- Pub Crawl & Club Experience: $30
Sample the Local Flavors in Wellington
Also in Wellington, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Wellington Craft Brewery Half Day Tour: $93
- Wellington Craft Brewery Half-Day Guided Tour with Tastings: $96
- 5 hour Martinborough shared Chefs Wine Tour with Gourmet lunch: $151
- Martinborough Full Day Wine Tour: $169
- Chefs Private Martinborough wine tour with Gourmet Lunch: $361
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Zanzibar and Wellington, we can see that Wellington is more expensive. And not only is Zanzibar much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Zanzibar is in Africa and Wellington is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Zanzibar would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Zanzibar and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Wellington would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Wellington than you might in Zanzibar.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Zanzibar Expensive? and Is Wellington Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Zanzibar or Wellington?
Zanzibar has a larger population, and is about 6% larger than the population of Wellington. When comparing the sizes of Zanzibar and Wellington, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.
When is the best time to visit Zanzibar or Wellington?
Wellington has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Zanzibar experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Zanzibar or Wellington in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Zanzibar as well as Wellington. Zanzibar attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Additionally, many visitors come to Wellington in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences.
In July, Zanzibar is generally a little warmer than Wellingtonin January. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 25°C (77°F), and Wellington fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Wellington. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Zanzibar this time of the year. In the summer, Zanzibar often gets less sunshine than Wellingtonin January. Zanzibar gets 224 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wellington receives 242 hours of full sun.
Zanzibar usually gets less rain in July than Wellingtonin January. Zanzibar gets 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures July and JanuaryZanzibar 25°C (77°F)Wellington 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Wellington in the Autumn?
Both Wellington and Zanzibar are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Zanzibar throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Wellington for the hiking trails and the shopping scene during these months.
Zanzibar is much warmer than Wellington in the autumn. The daily temperature in Zanzibar averages around 25°C (78°F) in October, and Wellington fluctuates around 15°C (58°F)in April.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Zanzibar. Zanzibar usually receives more sunshine than Wellington during autumn. Zanzibar gets 275 hours of sunny skies, while Wellington receives 163 hours of full sun in the autumn.
In October, Zanzibar usually receives less rain than Wellingtonin April. Zanzibar gets 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures October and AprilZanzibar 25°C (78°F)Wellington 15°C (58°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Wellington in the Winter?
Both Wellington and Zanzibar during the winter are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Zanzibar because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the winter months attract visitors to Wellington because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.
In the winter, Zanzibar is much warmer than Wellington. Typically, the winter temperatures in Zanzibar in January average around 28°C (82°F), and Wellington averages at about 10°C (49°F)in July.
It's quite sunny in Zanzibar. In the winter, Zanzibar often gets more sunshine than Wellingtonin July. Zanzibar gets 236 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Wellington receives 122 hours of full sun.
Wellington gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Zanzibar usually gets less rain in January than Wellingtonin July. Zanzibar gets 78 mm (3.1 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures January and JulyZanzibar 28°C (82°F)Wellington 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Zanzibar or Wellington in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Zanzibar and Wellington. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Zanzibar year-round. Also, the beaches are the main draw to Wellington this time of year.
In April, Zanzibar is generally much warmer than Wellingtonin October. Daily temperatures in Zanzibar average around 27°C (81°F), and Wellington fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).
Zanzibar usually receives less sunshine than Wellington during spring. Zanzibar gets 155 hours of sunny skies, while Wellington receives 180 hours of full sun in the spring.
Zanzibar gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Zanzibar usually receives more rain than Wellingtonin October. Zanzibar gets 269 mm (10.6 in) of rain, while Wellington receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures April and OctoberZanzibar 27°C (81°F)Wellington 13°C (55°F)
Typical Weather for Wellington and Zanzibar
| Zanzibar | Wellington | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 28°C (82°F) | 78 mm (3.1 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 52 mm (2 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 51 mm (2 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (83°F) | 131 mm (5.2 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 75 mm (3 in) |
| Apr | 27°C (81°F) | 269 mm (10.6 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 82 mm (3.2 in) |
| May | 26°C (78°F) | 176 mm (6.9 in) | 12°C (54°F) | 92 mm (3.6 in) |
| Jun | 24°C (76°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) | 10°C (51°F) | 113 mm (4.4 in) |
| Jul | 25°C (77°F) | 31 mm (1.2 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 111 mm (4.4 in) |
| Aug | 24°C (75°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 98 mm (3.9 in) |
| Sep | 25°C (76°F) | 28 mm (1.1 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Oct | 25°C (78°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (80°F) | 132 mm (5.2 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 79 mm (3.1 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 116 mm (4.6 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 69 mm (2.7 in) |
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.